No. 4-seed Providence College Men’s Basketball Tops No. 13-

The Friars earn a hard-fought victory against the Hoyas, advancing to the Round of 32 in the NCAA tournament

Providence College Men’s Basketball Defeats No. 13-seed

The Providence College men’s basketball team defeated No. 13-seed University of Rhode Island on Saturday, March 10, 2018, at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island The victory marks the Friars’ first win in the NCAA Tournament since 1997 and advances them to the Round of 32 where they will face either Texas A&M or defending National Champion North Carolina

Providence started the game strong, taking an early lead that they would never relinquish. The Friars held URI to just 20 points in the first half, a school record for defensive efficiency in an NCAA tournament game. PC also set a program NCAA tournament record with 12 three-pointers made in the game.

The Friars were led by senior guard Rodney Bullock, who scored a game-high 21 points on 8-of-16 shooting from the field. Junior guard Jalen Lindsey added 16 points, while sophomore center Nate Watson chipped in 14 points off the bench.

URI was led by senior guard E.C. Matthews, who finished with 17 points on 7-of-15 shooting from the field. Senior forward Andre Berry was the only other player in double figures for the Rams, scoring 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the field.

With the win, Providence improves to 22-11 on the season and will face either Texas A&M or North Carolina in the Round of 32 on Sunday, March 18th.

What the Win Means for Providence College

The Providence College men’s Basketball team upset No. 13-ranked Xavier on Saturday, January 27. The win was a big one for the Friars, who are now tied for first place in the Big East Conference with a 9-3 record.

The victory also has significant implications for Providence College’s NCAA tournament chances. The Friars are currently projected to be a No. 10 seed in the upcoming tournament, but that could change with a strong finish to the regular season and a good showing in the Big East Tournament

Providence College has now beaten two Top 25 teams this season and has a signature win over Xavier that will look good on its NCAA Tournament resume. With a strong finish to the season, the Friars could find themselves in better position come Selection Sunday.

The Standout Performers for Providence

In their first game of the season, the Providence College men’s basketball team topped No. 13-ranked Villanova. The Friars were led by a strong performance from senior guard Nate Watson, who scored a game-high 24 points. He was joined in double figures by two other seniors, A.J. Reeves and Alpha Diallo, who scored 15 and 14 points respectively.

The Key Moments in the Game

It was a back-and-forth affair for most of the game, with neither team leading by more than six points. But in the end, it was No. 4-seed Providence College that came out on top, defeating No. 13-seed UNLV, 73-66. Here are the key moments from the game.

With just over four minutes to play in the game, UNLV’s Tervell Beck hit a jumper to give the Runnin’ Rebels a 66-64 lead. But that would be their last points of the game, as Providence went on a 9-0 run to close it out.

Beck’s jumper came after a 6-0 run by Providence that had given them their first lead of the second half, 64-63. But UNLV answered right back with their own 6-0 run, capped off by Beck’s jumper.

Providence then went on their own 9-0 run to take control of the game for good. Isaiah Jackson hit a three to tie the game at 66, and then Alpha Diallo hit a layup to give Providence the lead for good. After that, it was all defense for the Friars, as they held UNLV scoreless for the final 4:02 of the game.

What’s Next for Providence College

Providence College’s next game will be Seton Hall on Saturday, March 3. The game will be televised on CBS at 2:30 pm EST.